''My feeling is that if we cannot provide a safe atmosphere, then it's time to build a new middle school and move off that site,'' Superintendent Jim Surratt told the board during its meeting Tuesday.

Earl McCrary, Campbell Junior High principal, said after the meeting that he agrees with Surratt's recommendation but he also intends to work with the black community where the school is located to find another site in the area. During the meeting, Surratt stressed that his recommendation for courtesy busing should be considered an extraordinary measure and the first step to finding a new school. He said the administration also will be discussing changing the school's grade arrangement and reviving the school resource officer program in the interim.

Campbell has come under scrutiny following the recent beating of 13-year- old Michael Gordon in a wooded area near the school. The incident prompted parents and police officials to point out numerous other incidents that have occurred near the school, which is located in a low-income neighborhood.

Betty Jane Luzner, a parent with children at Campbell, gave the board a police printout showing that police responded to more than 100 incidents at Campbell and about 33 at Turie T. Small Elementary. Luzner said those incidents included a rape and strong armed robberies.

She called on the board to include the elementary school in the courtesy busing for children who live near the school. The bus service currently is provided to the students at a cost of $15 each semester.

Parents from the Port Orange area said they are considering not sending their children to the school's gifted program because they are concerned about their children's safety.

The five board members at the meeting unanimously agreed to provide the busing and set aside $500,000 in the proposed bond issue for a new site for Campbell. It did not, however, set aside any money to build a school.

Board member Al Williams was not present.

Surratt said after Tuesday's meeting that he does not expect to back down from his recommendation unless he saw a drastic improvement in the situation. But, he added that he is open to suggestions.

The superintendent said administration officials have already started looking at sites west of the current location but have not found anything suitable.